Electric-switch-conrolling mechanism



July 15 1924. 1,501,734

L. s. WALLE ELECTRIC SWITCH CONTROLLING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 8. 1923 v 1 Fig.1.

Inventov: Ludwig $.Walle His Attorney.

Patented July 15, 1924.

UNITED STATES 1,501,734 PATENT OFFICE.

LUDWIG S. WALLE, OF SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

ELECTRICSWITCH-CONTROLLING MECHANISM.

Application filed November 8, 1923. Serial No. 673,582.

To all 10. 1 am it may concern Be it known that I. LUnwIG S. VALLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Schenectady, in the county of Schenectady, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric- Switch-Controlling Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to electric switches and particularly to the controlling mechanism therefor. The object of my inventionis to provide an iniprovement upon similar mechanisms heretofore known in the art characterized by a simpler construction involving a less number of parts, by a greater tripping sensitiveness and by a less liability to tripping due to vibrations, from other sources. The invention resides in the toggle mechanism commonly employed in switch operating and controlling mechanism whereby the switch may be tripped out by a c01nparatively' light force as, for example, from a small electromagnet and is an improvement upon the toggle mechanism disclosed in Letters Patent to Stevens, No. 1,421,7i0, and dated July 4, 19:22, and assigned to the same assignee as the present application.

My invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanying specification and drawing and its scope will be pointed out in the appended claims.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a switch involving my invention, parts of the mechanism being broken away for the sake of greater clearness; Figs. 9. and 3 are respectively a top plan and side elevation of the toggle mechanism shown in Fig. 1 but drawn to a larger scale: and Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the toggle in its released position.

Referring to 1. I have shown by way of example an oil switch 1 supported by a frame 2 at the rear of a panel 3 while on the opposite side of the panel is the hand tijl tlttlied closing lever 4 and tripping magnets 5. The hand lever 1 is preferably bifurcated and has a handle 6 pivoted thereto at 7 and provided with a finger 8. an escutoheon plate 9 carries a bracket 10 at the end of which is pivoted a springpressed latch 11. By its engagement with a pin 12 on the lever 4 this latch serves to retain the lever in itsvertical or closed c1rcuit position. A pull on the handle 6 rocks it on its pivot 7 and causes the finger to depress and unhook the latch whereby the lever may be moved to open circuit position. 011 the return movement, the finger engages stop pin 13 and the latch is again depressed by riding under the pin 12.

The toggle mechanism comprising the present invention consists essentially of a long link 16, and a short-link 17 pivoted thereto at the point 18. Link 16 is shown as composed of two pairs of link members 19 and 20 which are adapted to be adjustably connected together for the purpose of varying the total length of the link. The outer end of link 17 has a pin'21 which engages the operating handle 4 and which also engages a shoulder 22 on the adjacent end of link 16 whereby the toggle comprising links 16 and 17 are prevented from reaching an overset position. For restraining the toggle from collapsing when put under pressure as in closing the switch or in holding it in closed position there is provided a main latch 23 which is mounted on a pin 21 carried by link 16 and which has a roller 25 adapted to engage a flat face 26 on the upper side of link 17. This face is so formed that when it bears against the roller 25 a small component of that force tends to rotate the latch in a clockwise direction. Means for limiting the rotative movement of latch 23 in both directions is provided by a pin 27 which engages in a cut-away portion 28 in the latch 23. At its opposite side the latch 23 has an extension to which is pivoted a second latch 30 having a roller 31 which, when the toggle is set, is adapted to engage a surface 32 on the under side of link 17 andthus oppose any rotative movement of latch 23. Surface 32 is substantially normal to the line passing through the center of roller 31 and through the center of the pivotal mounting of the latch 30 so that an exceedingly light blow struck against the lower portion of latch 30 is sufficient to trip latch 30 which in turn releases latch 23 and permits the toggle to collapse even though the switch is being held closed with a considerable pressure. Because of the extreme sensitiveness of the latching means just described a light spring 33 is shown wound about pivot pin 2st with one end engaging stop pin 27 and the other end engaging latch 30 so that vibrations from other apparatus shall not cause the toggle to be tripped.

To reset the toggle the handle 6 is pulled out, thereby releasing the lever 4 from the latch 11 and thereafter straightening the toggle links 16 and 17. In so doing the roller on latch 23 rides over the connected end of link 17 to the flat surface 26 when pin 21 engages the shoulder 22 on link 16 leaving roller 31 of latch against surface 32.

While I have described only one embodiment of my invention, I do not Wish to be limited to the particular form shown and described as it will be apparent that many modifications therein may be made without departing from the scope of my invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:-

1. In a switch controlling mechanism in cluding an operating member, a toggle con nection between said operating member and said switchcomprising a pair of members pivoted to each other and having cooperating portions for limiting relat1ve pivotal the other of said members and a second latch carried by said first latch adapted to engage another portion of said other member.

2. In a switch controlling mechanism including an operating member, a collapsible toggle connection between said operating member and said switch comprising a pair of members pivoted to each other and having engaging portions to prevent oversetting of the toggle, one of said members having a pair of engaging faces, restraining means for said toggle comprising a main latch pivoted to the other of said members and having a roller adapted to engage one of said faces, and a second latch pivoted to said first latch and having a roller adapted to engage the other of said faces, and means for resiliently opposing unlatching movement of said second latch.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 7th day of November, 1923.

Lnnvvie s. wanna. 

